Gehlot to pilot Rajasthan again

NEW DELHI: Ending the intense jockeying for power in Rajasthan, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday picked party veteran Ashok Gehlot as the new Chief Minister of the state and Sachin Pilot, who had put up a strong claim, as his deputy.

The formal announcement of Gandhi’s decision was made at a press conference at the party headquarters by K C Venugopal, observer for the legislature party leader’s election, after an over hour-long meeting between Gandhi and the two contenders, Gehlot and Pilot, at his residence.

Informed sources said Gandhi is said to have convinced Pilot to become Gehlot’s deputy as the party is keen to keep the Gujjar community, to which he belongs, on its side ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The Gujjars are a dominant community in Rajasthan.

This was the third meeting of Gehlot and Pilot in two days with Gandhi as their respective camps strongly staked their claim for the Chief Ministerial post.

“Gandhi has chosen Ashok Gehlot as the Chief Minister and Sachin Pilot will be the Deputy Chief Minister,” Venugopal announced here adding it will be a mix of experience and dynamism.

This is the third time the 72-yearold Gehlot will assume the reins of Rajasthan as Chief Minister while the 41-year-old Pilot, who won his maiden Assembly election, will be making a debut in the state.

Expressing his gratitude over being chosen as Chief Minister, Gehlot assured the people of Rajasthan that the party would fulfil all its commitments including waiver of farmers’ loans, generating employment for the youth and providing good governance.